Wisconsin GOP proposes erasing parts of court database

MADISON — The latest attempt to restrict public access to a popular online court records database is being circulated in the Legislature.

Rep. Mary Czaja, of Irma, and Sen. Glenn Grothman, of West Bend, are circulating a bill that would remove cases from the database in which charges were dismissed, the person was found not guilty or the case was overturned on appeal.

Similar proposals have drawn widespread opposition from users of the database, including media groups, landlords, and the state court system.

Grothman and Czaja, both Republicans, circulated their proposal for co-sponsors on Wednesday.

The court records database known as CCAP provides information free to the public about civil and criminal cases filed in Wisconsin circuit courts. It gets between 3 million and 5 million page views a day.